By the time I reached the locked bedroom door, I was already convinced my five-year-old twins were hurt—or something even worse. I forced the door open, braced for a nightmare, but what I saw was almost more shocking: our new housekeeper was asleep in my late wife’s bed, with one of my sons snuggled against her chest and the other clutching her apron. And, for the first time since their mother’s death, my boys looked safe.

I dropped my phone and sprinted out of the bedroom, my heart hammering violently against my ribs.

I burst into the hallway, fully prepared to kill whoever was threatening my family.

But the hallway was completely empty.

Annie and the boys were gone, leaving only the crumpled crayon drawing lying on the floor.

"Annie!" I screamed, tearing down the grand staircase taking two steps at a time.

I reached the massive marble foyer just as the heavy oak front door swung shut.

I lunged for the brass handle, throwing the door open and rushing out onto the front steps.

A sleek black town car was idling in my circular driveway, its tinted windows obscuring the interior.

My chief operating officer, Marcus Vance, was standing casually next to the open passenger door.

He was straightening his immaculate tie, a cold, calculated smile resting on his face.

"Good evening, Arthur," Marcus said smoothly, as if we were casually meeting in a boardroom.

"Where are they, Marcus?" I roared, balling my hands into tight fists.

Marcus chuckled softly, gesturing toward the back seat of the idling vehicle.

"The housekeeper took the boys for a spontaneous ride to get some ice cream," he lied effortlessly.

"I suggested it might be best for you to have a moment alone to process some difficult corporate news."

I took a threatening step toward him, entirely unbothered by the fact that he outweighed me by fifty pounds.

"If you touched a single hair on my children's heads, I will completely destroy you," I threatened.

Marcus did not flinch, his smile never wavering for a fraction of a second.

"You are in no position to destroy anyone, Arthur, especially since the board voted to remove you as CEO an hour ago."

He reached into his tailored jacket pocket and pulled out a thick envelope, tossing it onto the steps.

"You have been officially indicted for massive corporate fraud, and the police are exactly three minutes away."

The Clumsy Maid Bathed His Dog—Then The Mafia Boss Said She Wasn’t Leavi...

She found her husband with another woman and walked away so quietly that...

The Mafia Boss Asked a Disabled Widow If She Was Okay

Suddenly, the tinted window of the car rolled down just a crack, revealing Annie's terrified eyes.

She pressed a small, blood-stained flash drive against the glass before Marcus aggressively slammed his hand on the roof to signal the driver.

Chapter 3 - The Uninvited Guest